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| Varied Indian reactions to Pak turmoil | | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Oct 10
"Three days of Pak battle leaves 195 dead, pilot helicopter escorting President Parvez Musharraf crash lands, killing four cops, heavy fighting erupts between Pak security forces and Islamist rebels in North West Frontier areas of Pakistan". These disturbing news coming from Pakistan might be causing some concern or the people at the higher echelons in the Indian establishment, political circles as well as those who call themselves intellectuals may be posing taking these reports with deep concern, but the fact remains that the man in the street derives sedative pleasure and does not hide his/her bizarre jubilation over this discomfiture being undergone by Pakistan. The general remarks are that Pakistan which had so far been bleeding us for last many years, exporting terrorism to our country and sponsoring several acts of sabotage and subversion in J&K as well as other parts of the country, is now paying in its own coins. One who digs trench for others, invariably himself falls in it. As you sow so shall you reap. These are the common reactions of the common man in India over turmoil in Pakistan, Where the Islamic terrorists have now started firing gun shots on country's army and security forces as well as having become thirsty of the blood of President Parvez Musharraf, on whose life several attempts have been made, although he has miraculously come out unscathed in these attempts on his life, though dozens of his escorts and guards have been killed.
While this is the general reaction among the Aam Admi in this country, which no doubt is born out of his spirit of patriotism and nationalism, though getting its outlet in a negative or one may call in a perverted way, the analysts differ over the likely fallout of turmoil and state of instability in Pakistan, which is looming large over that country, with the possibility of breaking out of civil war not totally ruled out. One opinion is that the weak Pakistan is to the benefit of India, since embroiled in its internal problems, Pakistan cannot afford adventurism abroad, particularly posing any threat to the solidarity and stability of India. The example of Pakistan's defeat at the hands of India in 1965 and more so in 1971 wars, when Pakistan was dismembered and a separate sovereign state of Bangladesh was created, Pakistan's capacity to cause trouble for India was totally decimated and for long time to come neither there were internal disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir nor the borders skirmishes took place. The weak Pakistan is believe to prove discouraging for the secessionists and terrorists active in Kashmir as well as in other parts of India.
However against this there is the argument that stable Pakistan is as much in India's interest as of the South Asia as a whole. Particularly when the trouble in Pakistan is from the side of extremist Islamic jehadis, including Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorists, who have their concentration in the North Western areas of Bilochistan and Wazristan, on Pakistan's frontier with Afghanistan, any victory of these forces in Pakistan will pose a great threat to India in turn. The more India is far off from the centre of Islamist jehadis, on the Pak-Afghanistan border, with Pak army and the government of that country serving as buffer between India and these forces, it is better for India. Particularly, when the threat to the present establishment of Pakistan, precisely President Parvez Musharraf, is more from the Islamist jehadis the former is in an advantageous position and has the upper hand over the pro democratic and liberal forces in Pakistan, who are fighting to get rid of military rule, overtly or covertly over that country. With Musharraf forces under threat from the extremist Islamic elements, the US support to Parvez Musharraf is guaranteed, as he is considered as the best bet in USA's war against international terrorism, precisely Ai-Qaeda and Taliban, who pose threat to America and other Western countries.
What course the beleaguered President adopts to face the challenge posed to the country as well as to his own authority is to be seen. In case Parvez Musharraf sticks to his assurances and continues to behave gentlemanly, with his actions synchronizing with his profession of containing the militants and Islamic jehadis in his country, even though under his own compulsions, this will have its positive fallout in India and it can be expected that terrorism in J&K as well as in other parts of the country will eventually subside. But if, on the contrary, he chooses to divert the public attentions from internal dissentions as well as the attention of the Islamic terrorists towards India, by continuously tacitly supporting the terrorist targeting India, the militancy in J&K and the rest of the country can be feared to get impetus, which will be a cause of great worry for our country.
How much the common man in India may be rejoicing over the discomfort of Pak establishment, as they nourish deep grouse against Pak rulers for their exporting terrorism to this country, the people at large today have hardly any ill will against the common man in Pakistan—thanks to confidence building measures and people to people contacts between the two countries initiated for last two years. The best example of the same is the same affection and acclaims earned by Pak singers, participating in "Sa Re Ga MA Pa" TV program, telecast from Zee TV. Amanat Ali from Pakistan who is standing among three final competent has as much endeared himself to the Indian viewers, as have the other two in the final race. Even if Amanat Ali emerges the final winner, next Saturday October 13 night. It will be taken with the same spirit in India as the win of any two of Indian participants. |
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